Funding and project management is an integral role to any theatre company so we spoke to Jo Blagg about her role as a Creative Learning Manager for The Regent Theatre and The Victoria Hall to see exactly what the job involves...

"From 1999 to April 2011, I was Creative  Learning Manager for The Regent Theatre and The Victoria Hall in Stoke on Trent – touring venues operated by the largest theatre managers in the country - The Ambassador Theatre Group.

"I set up the department from day one.  The work involved devising and delivering arts projects for young people and adults, managing budgets, making applications for funding to support new projects to bodies such as Arts Council England, Clore Duffield Foundation, Local Authorities, Robbie Williams Give it Sum Trust, as well as commercial businesses.  In addition I was responsible for contracting professional actors, dancers, singers and musicians, managing two youth theatres, as well as writing evaluations and reports, chairing planning meetings and liaising with key strategic partners including the local authority, Glyndebourne Opera, regional arts organisations, schools, colleges and universities.

"From 1999 to 2011 the creative learning department devised over one hundred productions ranging from small to large scale, the most ambitious of which was the annual youth dance festival at The Regent Theatre involving over 1500 young dancers and nine shows each January.  I was also privileged to commission five new operas for schools and youth groups which were premiered on stage at the city’s beautiful concert venue, The Victoria Hall.

"The day to day variety that the work generated made it uniquely satisfying and creatively stimulating.  I particularly enjoyed working closely with artists and practitioners of all disciplines and observing new and different ways of learning through the arts, and the process of reviewing and using what we learned as we devised and planned future work.  Attention to quality was always at the heart of the programmes we delivered.  The best artists, the best environment for the activity and the best specialist technical support as and when it was needed.  The department grew from 2002 onwards with the appointment of the Creative Learning Officer, and then in2003, the part time Dance Artist in Residence freelance – throughout,  two very valued colleagues.

"Creative Learning also dedicated time and energy to introducing the world of work to young people in city schools, colleges and universities.   A popular and oversubscribed work experience programme was delivered by the generous and skilled backstage crew at The Regent Theatre for Yr 10 pupils, as well as a more intensive professional development residency for Theatre Practice undergraduates from Staffordshire University, and technical theatre students from Stoke on Trent College.
 
"Of all the performing arts disciplines, dance was our forte, being a major thrust from 2002 to 2011.  I was involved in the recruitment and selection of dance artists for the Dance Artist in Residence pilot project (West Midlands) and I served on the advisory panel for the West Midlands Cultural Olympiad  - People Dancing

"I now work as a self-employed freelance arts consultant for Stoke on Trent College (on Creative and Cultural Apprenticeships programme; external partnerships; community programmes), Stoke on Trent City Council (Creative and Media Diploma Lead), and The Ambassador Theatre Group (Cultural Olympics and London 2012 Festival projects), as well as researching archive material from the Victoria Theatre/New Vic Theatre which will contribute to a book about the life and professional times of Peter Cheeseman - who founded this pioneering producing theatre, presenting productions in the round, in Stoke on Trent in 1962.  Peter was the theatre's Director for over 30 years, until he retired in the late 1990s.

"My first role in theatre was in 1990 as a researcher for the docudrama "I don't want to set the world on Fire!", which was written by Bob Eaton and premiered at the New Vic Theatre.  My job involved gathering primary research from ladies who had worked in munitions (bomb/bullet factories) in the Second World War.   I interviewed them in their homes and recorded the conversations, then typing them up (transcribing) and these memories were the basis for the storyline of the docudrama. 

"The best thing about working int the arts is working with and learning from inspiring people who are passionate about the arts and seeing high quality engagement - brilliant artists sharing skills. 

"I'd say the worst is being beaten by the clock - when there is still much to be done.

"The subjects I most enjoyed at school were Maths, Statistics, Art, English and Ceramics. My qualifications post GCSEs are A Levels in Geography, Mathematics and General Studies, a Royal Society for the Arts Diploma for Personal Assistants and i'm presently studying for a part-time MA in Creative Communities at Staffordshire University

"The main advice i'd give to people is to network and communicate with others in the theatre world, have a role model to aspire to and build up a good list of contacts. You also need to put in 110% and be a really good listner."

You can find out more about other management training positions in our careers in theatre section.